Collapsible baby bed



Aug. 26, 1952 T. w. SCHETTLER, JR ,6

COLLAPSIBLE BABY BED Filed July 21, 1948 I s Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 4.

Iuvsuron, 771500055 14 ScHErTLER, JR, I) W m fl-rronus Y.

Aug. 26, 1952 T. w. SCHETTLER, JR 2,607,930

COLLAPSIBLE BABY BED Filed July 21, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet a o z 4 z E Y L E N 0 M m8 T 1 W9 3 W E R I o 8 III M I D ooooooo 00000000000 2 M r ooooooooooooooooooooo 8 I ooooooooooooooooooooooo 7 ooooooooooooooooooooo oooo 6 ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo W R 5) 0000000 0000000 000000 000000 00000 I 00000 ooooo Illr ooooo 00000 00000 000000 000000 ooooooo ooooooo oo ooooooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooooooo G ooooooooooooooooooo I F Patented Aug. 26, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 2,607,930 coLLAPsnsLE BABY ,BED

Theodore'W. Schettler, Jr., RoswelLNQMex. Application'July 21, 1948, SerialNo.'39,883

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to a collapsible baby bed wherein the bed may be erected in a relatively short period of time ready for use, and then be collapsed and rolled up into a small package for portability.

The invention involves a large number of advantages including the structure permitting light weight and strength in actual usage. It is quite rigid when set up, and is made to be durable over a long period of time. The construction lends itself to easy washing in order to permit the entire structure to be maintained in a sanitary'condition. There are-no slots nor openings in the structure through which the baby might extend its head and get into difiiculty "as is often the case in the slatted construction. Moreover there are no hinges nor catches which have to be operated intermediate corner posts and 'the like. The side and end walls are made out of a flexible material that has a delayed elastic quality, while the floor itself being flexible is non-stretchable.

Furthermore the operation of setting up the bed and in collapsing it and reducing it to a small package involves no skill, and may be accomplished in a very short period of time all without :the useof any kind of tools whatsoever. 7 These and many other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art in the following description.

of one particular form of the invention as illustrated 'inthe-accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1,.is a view in side .elevation; Fig. 2 is a view in top plan; Fig. 3, a detail in vertical section on the line .33 in Fig.2;

Fig. 4, a view in bottom plan; Fig. .5, .a detail on an enlarged scale in vertica'lsection on the line 5-5 in Fig. 2;

Fig. '6, .a detail in vertical section on the line 6'6 in.Fig..5; 1

Fig. '7, a detail in vertical section on the line l--l.in Fig. 5;

Fig. 8, a .detail in transverse section on the .line 8-8 in Fig. 5;

Fig. 9, a vertical transverse section on an enlarged scale on the line 99 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 10, a detail in bottom plan view of a .corner construction; and

Fig. 11, a detail in vertical section illustrating theattachment of the wall material to the floor material.

Referring to the drawings, in which like characters of reference indicate like parts, I employ four-corner posts I5, l6, l1, and 18 respectively,

v each of these posts in the present 'showing being made out of square tubing. Top, round rails l9 and 20 interconnect respectively the upper end portions of the postsrl5, Hiyand 11, I8. Likewise lower rails constituting round tubing and designated by the numerals 2i and :22 interconnect respectively these posts 15 and 16 on the one side and I1, 18 on the other side. I

Then interconnecting the upper end portions of the posts 15 and I8, and the posts 16, l;1,- are the upper end rails 23 and 24 respectively. In

like manner lower end rails 25 and '26 interconnect respectively the posts l5, l8 and I6, :11, Fig. 3. V

The axesof the top side railsl9 and D,:and

the end rails 23, 24 lie in the same plane. Also the axes of the lower side rails 2| and 22, and the lower end rails 25 and 2-6.lie in thesame plane. This plane of the lower end and side rails is spaced upwardly a distance from the lower ends of the respectiv posts as indicated in Fig. '1. v v 7 The ends of all of these top and bottom side and end rails are detachably interconnected with heir respective posts. Reference is made now particularly to Figs. 5-8 wherein themanner of the interconnection of these rails with the posts is illustrated. Since all of the connections are identical, the description of one particular rail connection is suflicient to describe all of the other rail connections.

Referring specifically to the top side rail 19 and its connection with the post l5, there. is placed inside of the post [5 a plate 21 which has inwardly extending tongues 28 and 29;. .A cap screw 30 is provided with a speciahhead constituting a washer 3| and a head portion32 over which a wrench may be engaged. The "bolt 30 is inserted through a thimble 33, through the side wall of the post l5 and rotated to screwthreadedly engagebetween the ends of the opposing tongues 28 and 29 so that the thimble) is firmly brought up against the side face of the post l5 to secure that thimble in fixed position. The diameter of the washer 3| is made to be less than the internal diameter of the thimble '33 so that the end of the tube [3 may frictionally engage over the periphery of the washer 3| and against the internal wallof the thimble 33. The end of the rail I9 is preferably brought into abutment with the internal end of the thimble 33.

-A post 34 is provided to slide freely through an opening in the rail l9 so as to extend'normally 56 radiallyoutwardly therefrom. The degreeofieX- 3 tension of the post 34 beyond the wall of the tube I9 is determined by the internal head 35 of the post 34, Fig. 6. Then in order to maintain the post 34 in this normal, extended position, there is an elastic medium provided inside of the tube l9, herein shown as a block of sponge rubber 35 which is urged compressively into the end of the tube I9 to bear against the head 35 tending to seat the head against the internal face of the wall of the tube Hi. The post 34 may be retracted by pushing its outer end inwardly against the rubber 36. Each of the thimbles 33 is provided with an opening through which the post 34 may extend when the respective rails are brought into the positions as just described in reference to the rail |9 so that the post 34 serves as an interlocking means to prevent withdrawal or displacement of those rails. The post 34 in each instance may be sufliciently retracted to permit the insertion of the rail, rail IQ for example, into the thimble 33 and then allow the post '34 to spring back out through the opening 83 provided in the thimble in matched position for that travel. There is one distinction however to be pointed out between the upper and lower thimbles 33 in respect to those thimbles spaced along any one of the posts. This distinction is that all of the thimbles 33 which are at the upper end portions of the respective posts l5, l6, I1, and is, have their upper portionscut away to leave simply a short upper collar 31,-Fig. 6, which engages only the extreme outer ends respectively of the top side and end rails. The lower thimbles, Fig. 7, are left to have panel 45, the end panel 4|, the other side panel 42, th'e other end panel'43, all of these panels being in one continuousstripof material and having 'the 'en ds of that strip joined one to the other "preferably at'a corner post, Fig. l, by vertical stitching 44." The total length of the materials so stitched together forming the rectangular shape is made to be such that the material will require a slight stretching to be taut around the four corner posts.' A floor 45 is made out of any suitable material preferably'of a non-stretching natureand also'water'prooi besides. One particular material suitable for this purpose is one that is now comr morily being made to embody fibers of finely spun glass together with a plastic intermediate bonding material. This floor material 45 is cut to have a total area such that it will exceed the area definedby the side panels im il, 42, and 43 as above indicated. This means that the side and end portions of the floor '45 must be turned to extend along the innerfaces of those panels respectively."

. For example, an end portion 46 of the floor 45 is turned downwardly along the inner face of thep'aneldl and is stitched thereto along the lower commonedges by rows of stitching 47. In

.other words thedown turned portion 45 is fixed onlyto'the panel 4| at its lower edge, a distance removed below the normal position of "the floor 45. In the same manner, a side portion 48 of the'fioor 45 is turned downwardly along the inside of the panel 42 and is there stitched along -the'common lower ends. For increased strength,

the down turned ends of the floor 45, such as the downturned end 43, Fig. 11, is turned upwardly by a short length 49 and ends of tensioning straps 53 and 54 are intersewed between the portion 49 and the lower end of the panel 4| along the end panel 4|, and ends of straps 50, 5|, 52, along the lower end of the panel 42, between it and the down turned portion 48 of the floor.

The vertical height of .the respective panels 4|], 4| 42, and 43 is made to be suchifrom the top to the lower edge respectively that the lower ends of those panels will be normally spaced a distance of some 4 to 6 inches below the undersides of the lower side rails 2| and 22, and the end rails and 23. Therefore the floor 45 will have to be spaced upwardly within those panels in order to in a disassembled condition, the top side rail I9 is inserted through the hem 51 to extend by its ends from each end portion of that hem. It is to be noted that in each instance, the material forming the various panels 40-43 inclusive is cut away by the portions to clear the corner osts when the panels are in their erected positions. The other side rail 25 is inserted through the hem 55; the end rail 23 is inserted through the hem 53; and the end rail 24 is inserted through the hem 55. Then the ends of those rails I9, 25, and 23, 24 are pushed into the respective thimbles 33 of the posts l5, l3, and Il, l8 to have the interlocking post 34 snap into the openings 85 to retain the rails in their positions which will align the posts |5-|8 in the rectangular shape as viewed from the top side, Fig. 2. Following that operation, the lower side rails 2|, 22, and the lower end rails 25, 26 are fixedin position by having their ends engaged in their respective thimbles 33 with those posts 15-! inclusive, all as above indicated. Ofcourse these lower rails may be inserted first to support the posts if desired before the upper set of rails are engaged with the posts.

In any event, the side panels 40-43 then can hang from the top set of rails to form a rectilinear box-like container. The panels 43-43, being in one continuous strip as above indicated, extend around the outsides of the posts I 5-|8 inelusive. Sinc these panels have a vertical height greater than the distance between the top and bottom sets of rails interconnecting the posts, there are end portions 32, 63, 64, and 65, of the respective panels 45-43 which will hang below the level of the plane of the lower rails 2|, 22, and 25, 25. On the insides of these lower panel portions 32-65 are the marginal edge portions of the floor 45 as above described. The floor 45 will be in contact with the top sides f those lower rails 2!, 22, and 25, 25.

Now at spaced intervals along the edge of the panel marginal portion 63 there are stitched, as above indicated the straps 53 and 54. In the same manner, along the edge portion 64 of the panel 42 there are stitched in spaced apart relation the straps 58, 5|, 52, Fig. 4. 7 Along the edge of the edge portion 62 of the panel 4|] there are stitched in spaced, apart relation, the spacing matching that of the. straps 58-52 inclusive, straps 66, 6'1, and 68. These f straps have means for permitting extension or retraction of the length of the straps, that is the straps 53, 54, and 66, 61, and 68, have such means consisting of the buckles 69. In the end of each one of these straps there is a hook which may be engaged in a loop 1|. Referring specifically to the straps 66, 61, 60, these hooks 10 engage in the loops 1|, which loops are secured to the straps 50, 5|, and 52. Then the hooks 10 on the ends of the straps 53 and 54 engag in the loops 1| which are secured to the ends of the short straps 12 and 13 which are in turn secured to the edge portions of the lower end portion 65 of the panel 43, Fig. 4.

Thus by means of providing the proper length of the straps 53, 54, and 66-68 inclusive, the hooks 10 thereof may be engaged in the loop 1| to apply considerable tension to those straps, and in turn pull the portion 63 of the panel 4! around under the rail 26 and at the same time pull the edge portion 65 of the panel 43 around under the rail 25 on the other side in order to pull those panels 4| and 43 into a very taut condition. Then the other straps 66, 61, and 68 are pulled up tightly by engaging their respective hook 10 in the respective loop 1| of the straps 50-52 inclusive to pull the edge portions 62 and 64 one toward the other under the bottom rails 22 and 2| respectively.

Now in applying tension to these respective straps, the floor 45 is pulled up tautly and the edge portions secured over the marginal portions of the floor 45 are allowed to stretch along with that pull so that the tension is substantially applied to floor 45 and the edge portions of the panels 40-43 follow along therewith. This is possible by reason of the fact as above indicated, that the floor 45 is made out of substantially nonyielding material whereas the panels of the side and end walls are not only flexible but elastic in the delayed manner indicated.

Referring to Fig. 10, it is to be seen how the various parts are engaged around under the lower rials wherein a corner is shown in detail to indicate the opposite end floor portions 46 and 88 as being pulled around the under sides of the rails 22 and 26 and the panel end portions 62 and 63 overlapping those floor portions 46 and 88. Then in order to secure the corners of the panel portions 62 and 63 for example, Fig. 10, the extreme ends 15 and 16 are provided with component parts 11' and 18 of fasteners such as the usual and well known glove fastener so that one may be compressed over the other as indicated in Fig. 4. The lower corners of the panels -43 are cut away as indicated by the numeral 80 in each instance so that the corners will clear the posts and permit the edge portions of the panels to come together at the corners as just indicated.

Referring to Figs. 6 and 7, it was above noted that the upper thimble 33 was cut away from the upper side to leave the short cylindrical portion 31 whereas the lower thimble 33 was left to have the full longitudina1 length as indicated in Fig. 7. The reason for this difference is that the lower rails may be inserted into their respective thimbles 33, and then the upper rails I9, 20, and 23 and 24, may be pushed into their thimbles 33 without having to spread apart the posts one from the other too great a distance in opposition to the pull of the surrounding material forming the panels 40-43 inclusive.

Each of the panels 40-43 inclusive is preferably provided with a series of perforations 8| in order to provide ventilation within the space defined by the panels.

To disassemble the construction, the various straps are disengaged between their hook 10 and loop 1| to release the tension not only on the floor 45 but also on the side panels 40-43 whereupon the posts 34 at the ends of the top rails may be pushed upwardly to permit disengagement of those top side and end rails from their respective posts, and then the lower set of rails may likewise be disenga-gedso that the posts and rails may be laid side by side and the panel and floor material wrap therearound if so desired or wrapped separately for convenience and carried in some suitable holder. As soon as the straps are released between their hooks and loops, and the corners are disengaged at the members 11, 18, the entire fabric material may be lifted from the structure as soon as the top set of rails are released from their posts.

While I have herein-shown and described my invention in the one particular form, it is obvious that structural changes may be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I therefore do not desire to be limited to that precise form beyond the limitations which may be imposed by the following claim.

I claim:

In a collapsible baby bed, the combination with a framework of corner posts spaced by interconnecting top and bottom side and end rails, of an endless belt of elastic, plastic material to extend in a stretched condition around the outer surfaces of and between said posts to define side and end panels as a complete end closing side wall without gaps at the corners; a flexible, substantially non-stretching floor piece of a greater area than that defined by said lower side andend rails; said belt of elastic material having a height exceeding the vertical distance between said top and bottom side and end rails; the edge portions of said floor piece being secured therealong to said belt of material along a line spaced below the top edges of the material a distance exceeding the distance between the top and bottom rails; means supporting said material by its top edge portion from said top side and end rails; and tensioning means interengaging the opposed, floor piece edge portions across and under said bottom side and end rails to pull the side andend edge portions of the floor piece toward each other respectively to hold said floor piece taut over said bottom and end rails; and simultaneously stretch said material downwardly and around and under those rails all in the absence of pockets receiving the bottom rails.

THEODORE W. SCHE'ITIER, Jn.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 885,995 Hanson Apr. 28, 1908 1,270,780 Bugg July 2, 1918 2,032,141 May Feb. 25, 1936 2,119,387 Harvey May 31, 1938 2,345,295 Schettler Mar. 28, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 768,344: France May 14, 1934 

